98 Academics Honored for Research Excellence at RGC Award Ceremony in Hong Kong

2025-11-03 20:53 Last Updated At：21:08

RGC commends outstanding research academics in Hong Kong and holds inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Fellow Alliance

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

Click to Gallery

RGC commends outstanding research academics in Hong Kong and holds inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Fellow Alliance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

More Images

RGC commends outstanding research academics in Hong Kong and holds inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Fellow Alliance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (November 3) held an award presentation ceremony to honour 98 academics from the eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities for their distinguished research achievements and significant contributions to the higher education sector.

Selected through a rigorous process by the RGC, the awardees included:

* 9 RGCSenior Research Fellows;

* 11 RGC Research Fellows;

* 10 Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellows;

* 8 Early Career Awardees; and

* 60 RGC Junior Research Fellows (previously known as RGC Postdoctoral Fellows).

The same occasion also marked the inauguration of The Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Fellow Alliance (HKRFA), to promote greater impact of Hong Kong researchers and further advance research excellence.

Officiating at the ceremony, the Secretary for Education, DrChoiYuk-lin, said that Hong Kong is the ideal place to pursue research careers and aspirations. In addition to accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, the Chief Executive has announced in the 2025 Policy Address an increase in the over-enrolment ceiling of UGC-funded research postgraduate programmes from 100 per cent to 120 per cent in the 2026/27 academic year. DrChoi also welcomed the RGC's first Research Summit in December and the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition next year. The two major international events hosted by Hong Kong will create synergies for Hong Kong's research community and higher education sector.

"The Government will continue its efforts to promote the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand, and fully support the local universities to host more international events and attract more world-class scholars and students from around the world to our city to pursue their study and research. In doing so, we are determined to build Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent and strengthen the city's research capabilities," Dr Choi added.

Also officiating at the ceremony, the RGC Chairman, Professor Timothy W. Tong, congratulated the awardees for their distinguished accomplishments and celebrated the establishment of the HKRFA. He indicated that the RGC's different fellowships have been established to support scholars and researchers at every stage of their academic trajectory.

"Cultivating a pipeline of emerging research talent is essential for a robust research culture and vigorous academic environment in Hong Kong. They are key to sustaining long-term advances in Hong Kong's research and development ecosystem. The RGC seeks to furnish the local research community with strong support, enabling them to sustain and elevate their outstanding scholarly endeavours," he said.

The list of awardees is in the Annex. Relevant award citations are available on the RGC website (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/).

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

98 Academics Honored for Research Excellence at RGC Award Ceremony in Hong Kong

HK